Website broadcasting Chinese courts goes live

A website specializing in broadcasting trials of Chinese courts has been set up went public on Tuesday, China's top court said.

The website, ts.chinacourt.org, is another key step that the Supreme People's Court took to build "intelligent courts" across the country, according to a statement of the nation's highest justice chamber.

So far, 520 courts in the country have connected with the website and will broadcast case hearings on this platform, it said.

Since July 1, all courts have been asked to disclose case hearings on the internet, it said, adding that the top court has broadcasted 78 trials by the end of August.

The website aims to strengthen judicial transparency, help residents understand how Chinese judges hear a case and supervise courts' work, as well as provide a reference for law specialists, it said.

On the website, people can easily find live footage of case hearings they are interested in and will be informed what trials are ready to open next. Meanwhile, they are allowed to collect the video and leave messages or share opinions below live shows, it added.

It is the fourth open website set up by the top court to improve transparency.

Before, residents could search for verdicts on a nationwide verdict website, as well as can start a lawsuit through an online platform for filing cases.

In addition, they can also find defaulters, including debtors, on the top court's verdict enforcement website, urging them to meet the judgments or pay back money.

Under the court's judicial transparency rules, case hearings or verdicts that involved litigants under the age of 18 and related to state secrets cannot be made public.